Readers sound off: Fake news, algae, more

Time to hear what readers have to say.

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how God-awful I think your columns are. Heather I’m rethinking this idea already.

Dear Mr. Maxwell, Frankly, at age 72, not much impresses me. But I was stunned by your algae column. The headline was like a punch in the gut: “The Great Green Algae Disaster: We asked for it.” Your column was terrific; brutally frank and extremely well-deserved by what’s-his-name. Lindy

Thanks, Lindy. We’ve allowed this state’s natural resources to be ravaged. And we are reaping the ugly, toxic-green results.

I can’t believe the voters of Florida elected Rick Scott twice. While it’s time for Bill Nelson to retire, it’s more important that Scott not become our next U.S. Senator. Bill That sounds like quite a slogan

for Nelson: OK, so maybe you don’t want me anymore — but I’ll bet you a million dead fish and a screwed up SunPass system you want Rick Scott even less.

Captains, guides, waterfront business owners … we all very concerned about what is happening to our once-great waterways. We have dead fish, turtles and more floating up dead. What can we all do as citizens to stop this criminal sadness? Capt. Tommy

Captain, I asked a couple of the state’s top environmental leaders that question. They both said that, during election season, citizens should be wary of candidates who try to whip you into a frenzy over the evils of “regulations.” It may sound good. But “regulations” (and enforcement) are what stop carcinogens, toxins and pollutants from entering your water. Why don’t you get a big pacifier — and stick it in your socialist a**. Balto It seems like there should be a regulation against that.

Scott, thank you so much for your article in this morning’s paper about Florida preschool funding [“Pre-K scores fall. No surprise when Florida ranks 41st in funding”]. This really needs the public’s attention. Lesley

You’re right, Lesley. We spend $2,500 a year on each pre-K student and $18,000 on each inmate. Too little on the former. Too much on the second. And too few leaders paying attention to the connection.

Hey there. No soccer tonight because of the storms. Will everyone be available for dinner tonight? Text from wife

Honey, I’m kind of in the middle of a column here. But yes, I’m doing chicken. What kind? Son

Honey-lime. Yuck. Daughter Then you cook. I’m going out with friends. Daughter

Listen, I really have to get back to the column, but I don’t like you yuck-ing my chicken before you even taste it.

Scott, fine column pointing out how ‘Stand your ground’ Balkanizes people to the law of tribal score-settling on the streets over parking spaces. It fosters a belief that the law-of-impulse governs us and the law-of-the-jungle replaces courts of law. Lou

I agree, Lou. As troubled as I am by people who quickly resort to violence over petty issues, I’m even more troubled by the number of people who seem eager to justify that behavior.

They should give that money you wrote about [“Hate nasty political ads? Well, in Florida, your tax dollars fund them”] to news organizations to hire more columnists like you to investigate the candidates and give us all the facts we need to decide for ourselves. Lisa

Lisa, that is the best policy idea anyone has ever proposed.

To me, what disqualifies the candidate you wrote about today [“Candidate caught with fake diploma calls it fake news — until she’s forced to exit race”] is not only the fact that she lied, but that she actually thought that, in this day and age, she could get away with her scheme. Dale To be fair, I thought she might get away with it, too.

When did telling the truth, being honest and having integrity not matter anymore? Claire

I think around the same time people started declaring every fact they dislike “fake news.”

You are the f ***ing feckless f ***er of the fake hate news. John Claire, meet John.

Can you bring anything other than your unfounded opinion to your readers? David

Yes, David. I also bring socialism and feckless f ***ing. We just went over that. Pay attention. Can we post your column on a huge flashing sign over

I-4? Deb

Well, on one hand, it would take a lot of different flashing installments to transcribe an entire column onto a single sign. On the other, we’re talking I-4, so most motorists would probably remain stationary long enough to read them all.